Really want to know about this. Rocky, our 76 F150 4X4 Ranger XLT 360 LWB is slowly becoming more a part of the family everyday. She gets about 10mpg. i drive the truck daily too. But it is driving me nuts buying all the fuel i burn. We need a truck, and are condidering trading her for a later model. i have an 88 F150 4X4 351 SWB that i bought to resell. Love the Dent, too many memories, but real world gas prices are starting to make me question the wisdom of keeping her.

So what do yall do in the real world?

1) Bite the bullet and drive the Dent daily?
2) Have a more fuel efficient daily driver, like keep the 88?
3) Get a small car and use the Dent only for actual work?

 

Option 3 works for me. If my DD is in the shop, I drive the Dent. If one of my daughters is home and needs wheels they drive the Dent. Otherwise I use it only when I need a truck or excercise it on weekends.

 

I use mine as a DD when I have the surplus to do so. Otherwise it's option # 3. I need my beater to get around and do the dirty stuff. Can't be without my beater. It will make me

 

#3 it is. I drive 35 miles one way to the job. The dent is the farm/wood truck.

 

#3 of course. or Better yet sell the 88 and buy a gas card for the Ranger XLT!

 

#3 is what I do... I have a fleet to choose from and my commute is only 9 miles. My 68 Mustang can pull 24 MPG with its 200/c4 combo. My PT (manual 5-speed) can get 27 mpg if I drive like a saint. Get a DD that at least has some character and avoid driving a lemming!

Let's face it. Gas prices are not like to drop to a flat $3 with all that is going on.. geopolitical risk, supressed domestic production, specialty fuel blends (like in CA), and the typical supply and demand curves

Plus China and India, which were third world countries, are adding to the overall global demand for crude oil.

 

No. 3 is the realistic option. As much as I love driving the trucks, even if I'm pulling 13-15 mpg, it's just not feasible burning the fuel every day at $4.00+ per. Plus, when you're only driving them once or twice a week, I think you appreciate it a little more. It makes me appreciate being able to drive mine after I get done crawling thru the scrap yard & looking at the other trucks that weren't so lucky!

 

i do #3.

i drive an 94 escort wagon to work every day (the definition of true style!) I use the Exploder to haul/tow light stuff (now), and i use the dent to haul/tow heavy stuff.

the wife uses her SD for horse stuff ... that's why i got the dent, she's too picky about her truck for me to use it like a truck. so i got a "man's truck" (which she hates to drive, but likes that *I* like it).

trucks are for truck duty, otherwise they are a grand waste of resources. If i'm gonna get 10mpg or less, i had better be doin' something with it, or on the way to do something with it.

that's what I do.

good luck on whatever you decide is right for you!

(i should qualify this response with the following disclamer: i have been able to "justify" owning 9 or 10 -lost count- cars/trucks with this logic, but it works for us)

 

#3 for me. I love driving the brown and yellow trucks, but most days I drive the white truck...Toyota Tacoma 4 banger 5 speed

 

#3- You would regret it later on after it was gone, Maybe Rocky can one day become the sons truck?

 

Like most here i'd go with option #3

Unfortunately $4 gas is the new reality and driving around in a truck that barely breaks double digits in the mpg department can really lighten the wallet.

I have a 37mpg diesel Ranger for daily driving duties, commuting, trips, errands, etc.

The 8mpg Highboy is my "fun truck" and basically relegated to weekend duty.

 

Thank the Good Lord,,, my commute is 6 miles to work,,, 6 miles home,,, I drive a Dent or a Slick every day of the week,,, and where I live,,, I can get the worst mileage out of ANYTHING I drive,,, town is 2200' my house is 3600' so it is uphill/downhill both ways and coasting down doesn't make up for WFO going up,,, case in point little dodge D50 I bought,, get that thing out on the 99 run around,, get 25+ all day long,, go back and forth to work,,, 15-17 MAYBE,, but all in all, if I were you,, KEEP THE DENT!! buy a beater for the daily chore of back and forth,,, KEEP THE DENT for when ya need it.
Did I say option #3,,, KEEP THE DENT?!!?!?!!!

 

I have only two choices the wife's pacifica which only gets 15mpg or the '78 F350 which gets "put gas in it when it gets low" milage so I drive the dent everyday. Lucky I don't drive more than around the neighborhood on most days office is next door and most jobs within 10 miles. If I had to drive more I would be thinking #3. Way too many "dang should have kept that car/truck/motorcycle" moments....... besides even if it never leaves the driveway at least your son can go out and hear a real engine once in a while I know my 8 year old gets a huge grin when we rev that 460!

 

I'm also in the #3 group. I use the 95 B2300 (ranger clone) for everyday errands and tedious tasks. It gets twice the MPG of the 390, but the 390 easily has 3X the power.
Granted, dad used the 74 as his daily driver for over 35 years, but gas wasn't even $2/gallon when he had to give up driving more than just 10-15 miles/month.

 

I use the #3 option as well. My dent was bought as a toy, a memory of the one my Dad had. I keep it in the garage and drive it on nice days. It gets 18-19.5 mpg, (300-I6). I have a 1996 S-10 that does the daily driving and hauls the crap around. The S-10 gets 22-25 mpg (2.5 ltr, 2wd) with very little complaining, or break downs. I drive 7.5 miles one way to work, and fuel up about every two or three weeks. I feel my dent has done its work, and earned its way by now, and its time for it to be in a semi-retired mode and only goes to family functions, joy rides, and the occasional drive to work. When its not doing that it rest comfortably in my garage. (Just realized last year I drove it a little over 1200 miles)
I suggest you do what is right for you, and your family.